ABSTRACT
Paraquat is a bipyridilium nonselective contact herbicide and well-known pulmonary toxicants. Concentrated solution of paraquat may causes severe corrosive injury and multiple system organ failure. It is poorly absorbed from GI tract, but is extremely toxic and so one swallowed mouthful of Gramoxone(about 5ml) will be fatal. We experienced 3 cases of paraquat poisoning through injection and examined pathologic findings, medical records and concentration of paraquat in blood and tissues. We reviewed the mechanism of action of paraquat, pathologic changes of organ system, concentration of compound in the various organ and cause of death in autopsy cases.
Subject(s)
Autopsy , Cause of Death , Gastrointestinal Tract , Medical Records , Mouth , Paraquat , PoisoningABSTRACT
Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Subject(s)
Alkalosis , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Causality , Cause of Death , Diaphragm , Duodenum , Fundoplication , Gastric Dilatation , Gastric Outlet Obstruction , Gastroparesis , Heart , Hypokalemia , Hypotension , Lung , Mucous Membrane , Necrosis , Stomach , Vena Cava, InferiorABSTRACT
Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
